The current City of Lethbridge school busses. (Lethbridge News Now)

By David Opinko

Lethbridge’s school divisions hire new bussing provider to start in fall 2021

Sep 24, 2020 | 10:16 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Next fall, students in the Lethbridge School Division and Holy Spirit Catholic School Division will be taking a different set of school busses.

They have jointly selected Southland Transportation Ltd. as the transportation services provider for the 2021-2022 school year.

“We are very pleased that Southland will be awarded this contract,” said Holy Spirit Board Chair Judy Lane. “Their proven record of providing quality, reliable and safe transportation services for our students will be very reassuring to our communities and greatly appreciated by all stakeholders.”

Back in December 2019, the City of Lethbridge severed its long-standing bussing partnership with the school boards with Mayor Chris Spearman citing rising liability costs as a primary reason.

READ MORE: Lethbridge school boards: severing bussing partnership with city makes no sense

What's Happening in Lethbridge this week: October 28-November 3, 2024

Oct 28, 2024

What's Happening in Lethbridge this week: October 21-27, 2024

Oct 21, 2024

What's Happening in Lethbridge this weekend: October 11, 2024

Oct 11, 2024

A joint press release states that the primary criteria for selecting a service provider were pricing and technical expertise such as qualifications, experience, training, professional development, service delivery, value added, past references, and provision of school busses.

“After evaluating both the technical and pricing components of the proposals, Southland Transportation Ltd was chosen as meeting or exceeding the established criteria of the RFP,” reads a portion of the motion at this week’s Lethbridge School Division board meeting agenda. “Southland Transportation was also low bid on the quoted pricing over the 5-year initial term of the proposed contract for transportation services.”

Over a five-year period, the school divisions will pay $19.2-million.

This works out to approximately $2.1-million per year for the Lethbridge School Division and $1.7-million per year for Holy Spirit.

No details have been provided regarding any potential changes to levels of service.

“Lethbridge School Division is confident Southland will continue to provide our students with a high level of safe and reliable bus service,” said Lethbridge School Division Board Chair Clark Bosch. “We also want to thank the City of Lethbridge being an effective partner with the Division in transporting our students to and from school for over 50 years.”

The process for finding a new bussing provider formally began back in May 2020 when the request for proposals was sent out. Only one other company bid.

The initial contract is for five years with an option to extend the agreement for two more subsequent five-year terms.